oliver Daily news

Council wants to “hash” over the topic before regulating business

Town of Oliver Council wants to take a ‘wait and see’ attitude on this current subject:

At a committee meeting late this afternoon Mayor Ron Hovanes attempted to set the direction of both staff and council by stating some facts –

Neither the federal or provincial governments have enacted law on the recreational sale of marijuana and therefore it is illegal and the policy of the town is that nothing illegal is authorized by municipal government.

Staff wants to hire a consultant to lead a programme of public consultation into the subject at a cost up to $15 thousand dollars but council said no.

Council also said no to enacting a restrictive bylaw prior to receiving direction on the new law and what is allowed and legal by senior levels of government.

Council generally believes that the market place will control how many retail outlets can be sustained in such a small area – with competition in the rural area, the OIB land, Penticton and Osoyoos.

Zoning laws could be used to ensure that retail outlets are not allowed near schools or public parks. Council’s hammer at the moment is a business license bylaw.

Senior staff indicated that their proposal for a consultant was to reduce the workload impact on staff during an election year. Council was more interested in an extended discussion period – possibly a working group to discuss the issues but not to go to the public until Oliver has a plan with this time “deemed” to be a bit early.

Council directed staff to post backgrounders from the federal and provincial governments on the Town’s website and FaceBook page and plan an extended time meeting in the near future.

Comments

In my opinion, Council – in fact no government – should be controlling free enterprise at that level of detail.

Oliver has three drug stores. Does Council care?

Oliver has four gas stations – if PetroCan is included. Does Council care?

If I’m not mistaken, Council gave (some form of) approval to a bar on Main Street last year. It isn’t there yet, but if it were that would make four watering holes in three blocks – without crossing the highway.

If someone thinks they can make a living, let them open a store. And leave them alone. The fittest will survive and the market will come to equilibrium.

Publisher: survey is limited due to the machine actually. But generally I agree and I think most of council agree – the market will take care of it.
Zoning comes into play with regard to schools and parks etc.

Council is right that we are in competition with the OIB, the rural district, Osoyoos and Penticton. We should zone a really nice shop on Main Street to beat the competition and deny zoning to any competing government store. We should ban home growing in the town because it is impossible to regulate. We should zone a vape lounge for tourists as soon as the province makes such licensing available as well as special event licensing for pot festivals in the park. No doubt legalization will bring many downsides but that is the case whether we zone retail outlets in town or not. So we may as well grab the economic benefits.